Followers

1/01/2021



 Good Evening, Bloggers. It's been so long since I posted, I didn't even remember how to do a new post. Took some scramblin' around to get to the correct place to post! Then had to search through computer files trying to find the signature a sweet blogger created for me. 

It's been an awful 2+ years while I was MIA, and I expect quite a few of you know that my sweet DH left us on June 30, 2020. I miss him terribly, but I am thankful that God was merciful and took him home, where he is now out of the misery that became his/our life for 20 months. I feel very hollow and like most of me is no longer there. I also know that some of you have been through this Life experience and understand what I'm feeling. 

Thanks to you all who sent beautiful cards that were so uplifting, and the prayers so many of you said for him and for both of us. Believe me, we sorely needed those prayers. I've been alone now for 6 months, as of yesterday. Facing a brand new year, that I hope will bring some smiles and ease of heartache. Our daughter (along with her husband) has been my rock and honestly, is what is keeping me going. DD was here with us the last month of her Dad's life, and I truly don't think I could have made it without her. I was exhausted, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She stayed for a few weeks after, and then was back in late Sept, again for Thanksgiving, and they came for Christmas. It helped me get through, and we had a lot of  'business stuff' to get handled, and SIL was a huge help with that. Both were great moral support for me as well. My brother who lives down the street (and lost his wife nearly 4 yrs ago) came for 2 months and stayed with me at night. That was a big help as I'd never really been 'alone' in that sense before.  I've still got so many blessings in my life.

 I am having to learn to do so many tasks that I never had to contend with before the sickness. And it ain't easy!!! But it's one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. As I have said to folks, some days are diamonds, some days are stones (re: the John Denver song). I just go along as best I can and keep praying God to keep me strong. I know He's listening, but I sometimes suspect He thinks I need to do some of this on my own, and not be a weakling wallowing in self-pity. I also know that DD is with me too, I just can't hug him and see him like I did, but I still talk to him a lot. I'm trying to do things as I think he would wish me to do. He wanted me to be happy and keep living for the both of us he said.

I am going to make a New Year's resolution to try to start visiting some blogs. And leave comments. I have some wonderful cards that people sent that I want to share. I'd like to say I'll share some cards I've made. Alas, I've not made very many. I did make a Christmas card for the DD and SIL, but oh, am I rusty! When you don't use copics regularly, it's hard to get the coloring to look 'right'. I don't know yet if I'll get back into card making, but gosh, with all the 'stash' I have, what a waste if I don't. Just not motivated as yet to want to make cards.

I wanted to try to make this post so that it goes live for New Year's Day (part of my resolution, don'cha'no?) and I'll make a few more private resolutions for myself. Still got lots of clearing out to do. I work on that and then have to stop. Not making too many decisions for a while, other than those I absolutely had to do.

I wanted to send to each of you that may read this post, heartfelt wishes for a much better and healthier New Year, for yourselves and your families. I know so many others have health issues, family problems, etc, and it helps to know that someone - somewhere - is thinking of you, and saying a little prayer each day for you. At least it did for me. Believe me that I'm doing so for my many blog buddies where I know there is a need for prayer. Thanks to ALL of you for being my blog buddies!!! Hugs.

Til later....God Bless. 




38 comments:

  1. OH! Mary how wonderful to see you blogging, little steps are important and I'm sure your bloggy friends will be so happy to see you back.
    Keep safe my Dear friend.
    Faith x

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  2. Mary, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers to you and your family. Yes this has been a rough year for us too. A lot of health issues an a few losses of family and friends. I just pray that 2021 will be a better year for everyone. Keep praying because prayers does help
    Happy New Year and have a great day
    Marilyn💖

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  3. So sorry Mary, you seem to have some good support, I hope you’ll find comfort in your memories. I look forward to seeing some of your lovely cards when you feel up to it xxx

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  4. It's so good to see a post from you, Mary. It has been such a sad time for you and I'm so glad your daughter and son in law have been there for you. Baby steps and posting is a great way to get back into things. I hope we will be seeing some cards from you in future posts too. I'm sending you wishes for a great New Year and many blessings. Big hugs.

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  5. Dear Mary, I am so very sorry to read of your husband's passing and his illness before that. Please accept my deepest sympathies, and may God give you the strength to endure. Sending hugs and prayers to you and your family. It is nice to see you posting again.

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  6. Mary, I'm so sorry to hear you had such a tough year and glad to see you are ready to blog again.
    Sending you Big Hugs Christine

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  7. Lovely to see you blogging again, Mary. You've been missed in blogland. I hope you can get back into cardmaking again and share the beautiful creations I know you can make. Thinking of you as you continue to take one day at a time. Take care.
    Liz xx

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  8. So very sorry to hear of your sad loss Mary and it is good that you have at least made a start on getting back to blogging with this heartfelt message, and I'm sure you know that when you feel able to start crafting again we will all welcome you back with open arms...as you say one step at a time. Take care. x

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  9. Lovely to see you here again Mary. So pleased that you had some lovely family that helped you to get through this. I have always thought of you as a strong person and I know that if you really want to do something you will do it. Looking forward to having you back.

    Kath x

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  10. It's great to see you blogging again. My heart goes out to you for the loss of your husband. Wishing you a healthy New Year! Hugs from Oklahoma.

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  11. Hi Mary, we missed you. I'm so sorry to know what it's happened! I'm sure your husband is still with you, even if you can't see him. May God give you the strength and peace you need. Step by step you will found yourself again.
    Prayers for you and best wishes for the new year.
    Hugs

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  12. So sorry for the loss of your DH Mary, and glad that you have loving friends and family around you. Glad to see you back, sending hugs, Cathy x

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  13. You're doing good, my friend. I pray each day is easier than the one before. XOXO

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  14. Oh Mary, I am so very sorry for the loss of your husband. I'm am glad you have had you daughter, son-in-law and brother to help you through this difficult time. I'm sure that God and your dear husband are watching over you. I know God and my parents have been watching over me during my cancer surgery and chemotherapy. I will be praying for you and hope that you will be able to get back to crafting (good therapy).
    Hugs and prayers,
    Pam

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  15. Mary, continuing to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. It is good to see a post from you. I am glad you have such amazing support, it will be a long journey, you are strong and dear hubby is with you. Hugs, Donna

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  16. Little baby steps, one day at a time, etc...is what it takes on this journey. I know the feeling you are saying, I feel like I'm missing half of myself-we are, I feel like I don't know who I am without my love-working on that one. You keep doing what you are doing Mama Mary as it really is baby steps. The Lord and Joe will see you through this, although I still complain to the Lord, not understanding still yet. We will get there and I'm a bit farther than you on this journey. Still never easy, how can it be as we both had a deep love and that just doesn't die when they leave this earth. We both know they are in a better place and are not suffering. Many of us here know, way to many. Know that we will be here for you Mama Mary. Sending loads of love, huge hugs and prayers-Brenda

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  17. Welcome back Mary and I am so glad to see you blogging again. And, thanks for sharing your story. I can only imagine how tough it would be to cope with Joe's illness and with the new things you are now learning to do on your own too. But when my Mom lost Dad she was told to keep busy and so finally after grieving for two years she dived into her hobbies and did a lot of baking. When someone came to visit she always served them a lunch. LOL We knew we would not go hungry when we went to her house. But you have to find your own path in this grieving process and I for one will love to see some of your beautiful cards again. We will welcome any and all you make and don't worry about how great they are. I am sure you will get back up to speed in no time at all. Join in some challenges as that is always an incentive. Take care and hugs to you. Happy New Year!

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  18. Mary, thank you for sharing, and I appreciate all the emails we have been sharing the past several months. I'm unable to leave the comment I'd like to leave, but please know that I'm fondly thinking of you.
    love,
    de

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  19. Welcome Back, Mary! It did my heart good to see a notification from you and also that I'm still subscribed. I can't imagine how hard these past two years were on you but thanks for this update!
    Prayers for your healing.

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  20. Happy New Year!
    I think of you often, and look forward to seeing your cards again!
    Just start small!
    Hope 2021 is better for everyone!

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  21. Dear Mary, we have all missed you, but do understand your need to concentrate on your immediate needs. So sorry your last couple of years have been hellish (I am sure that is putting it mildly). Please know I am thinking of you and sending you healing prayers. So thankful to hear you have so much support from all your family, but understand your loss and where there are days that nothing helps with your overwhelming feelings. Be reminded daily that your sweet DH wants you to be happy and treasure all your wonderful memories before the last couple of years. TFS your story as your friends are very helpful with prayers and sending healing thoughts. With much Love and Hugs...Nancy

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  22. Happy New Year Mary. Glad to see the old one away for many reasons, but mostly because of the terrible virus that has taken so many lives and ruined our Festive Season too. But now in a new year hopefully the vaccine will help to save lives and get us all living a full life again. Sending Love and Hugs to you and your lovely family. Rita xxxx

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  23. I'm sure it's taken strength to gather your thoughts for this post, but I'm glad you did it! I can only imagine how difficult it is to find your way back from such sadness and heartbreak, but I'm glad to see you're here. I believe those we love never really leave us, but they walk beside us in spirit every day, so keep talking to Joe - I'm sure he hears you. I'm glad you have a good support system as well to surround you with strength and comfort. It's not easy for you or anyone else going through such a loss, but know your blogging friends care and will be here for you too. Love, hugs, and best wishes for the coming year as we all face new obstacles in this thing called life.

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  24. Dear Mary.
    I had no idea of what you were going through, the illness of your hubby and that you had lost him! I have not been making cards and blogging since about 2016 and have lost contact with all the cardmakers out there, but I think of everyone so often still! I have seen some of your FB posts, many related with cancer so I assume that your husband had cancer. I am so sorry to realize that only now, otherwise I would have made contact to send love and prayers your way! I can imagine how difficult these last 6 months must have been for you, having to get used to the idea of being on your own now. So wonderful that you had your DD and SIL to help you cope with everything during this difficult year we have had! May the Lord continue to carry you through each day, as He has done up to now and may He make it easier for you as the days go by, to keep going and to continue on your journey through life, without your husband by your side. It will be a good thing if you could start making cards again or maybe even take on a new hobby to keep you busy and make it easier to cope with being on your own now.
    Sending lots of love and hugz your way and praying that things will get easier for you. Best wishes for 2021, you are in my thoughts and prayers!
    Petra

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  25. Oh Mary it is so nice to see you back in blogland. I am truly sorry for your loss. I hope that you will soon feel like getting back into card making. One small step at a time. there is no rush.we will bee here ready and waiting for you when you do. Hugs. Stay safe and well. Mrs A.

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  26. Oh Mary - I went back and read your last blog post several times over the period you have been off line, and prayed for you when I did - I have walked that walk and it was HARD, and like you, God provided family to support and help me through - both before and after DH's passing.
    So glad to see you back here, and as you say, it's one small step at a time. Don't despair, God always wants to walk with us through the dark and difficult times and willingly takes our hand when we reach out.
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  27. Mary it is so nice to see you again. It’s funny you posted then as I had only been thinking about you the previous day. Your name popped up on my FB page as a suggested friend! I am so sorry for your loss, obviously I knew when you stopped blogging that your hubby was ill but hadn’t seen any updates anywhere. As others have said you need to just take small steps back and one day at a time. Sending you hugs and stay safe. xx

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  28. Oh, Mary. I am so very sorry to read this. I have missed your smiling face in Blogland, but just thought you were taking a break. We all do that now and then, so I wasn’t worried. I am so saddened by your loss. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, my friend. Hopefully, getting back into creating and blogging will help fill some empty hours, and give you something to look forward to each day. Love and hugs to you!

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  29. Mary so good to see you posting again have missed seeing your cards.So sorry about you losing your hubby but good to see you have support.Best wishes for the New Year
    Carol x

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  30. Oh Mary, it filled me with joy to see you pop up on my dashboard, it has been so long and I thought of you often. My joy was short lived when I read your post and please know that I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Hubby. I hope one day to see that you find some comfort in crafting and start creating again. Until then, take care Mary xx

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  31. Delighted to see you posting again Mary. Sending special Hugs and Blessings your way.

    Love, Hugs and Blessings,
    Jim

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  32. Sorry to hear all that's happened in year life, but so nice to hear from you again. Hoping for a better 2021 than the previous year.

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  33. Mary, so sorry for your loss, I know hard it is, but with hopefully you heal some and be able to get back to creating things you are so great at. Many prayers and love to help you heart heal! 💕💕🙏🏼

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  34. So sorry for your loss! Many prayers and healing love that your heart will heal.....

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  35. So sorry to read all your sad news in this post but heartened to hear that you have support and are making a new life for yourself and taking each day at a time. Hopefully you can renew your love of crafting, I know that it can be such a great healer to be able to create and express your feelings in such hobbies. Take care and hope to see more of your posts soon.
    Lorraine

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  36. Mary, I am so very sorry for the loss of your husband. I lost my husband many years ago but I find now the memories I have of him are always happy ones. Glad you have family near that helps.

    Hugs diane

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  37. Sending lots of love and good thoughts to you in this trying time. Things will get better hopefully. Miss your lovely creations.......

    Hugs
    Chris B
    http//thecardphilelady.blogspot.com

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  38. I'm sorry to be so late commenting, Mary. I guess this was posted when I was down during the most painful part of this back thing. I was just deleting my blog notifications because I couldn't be on the computer, but I know I would have jumped for joy inside if I had seen this one show up! I'm so proud of you for getting on the computer to write this beautiful heartfelt message and for figuring out the new blogger draft configuration! I an rooting for you to slowly get your mojo and your love of card-making back into your bones. It would be a waste of your artistic talent and your kind commenting if you don't. Lots of love and hugs, Darnell

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